Scottish Executive

Aggregates Tax

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the amount of recycled aggregates that will be substituted for virgin aggregates as a result of the proposed aggregates tax.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The Executive has no functions in relation to the proposed aggregates tax. It is expected that the tax will lead to an increased use of recycled aggregate. No figures are available predicting the increase in use of recycled aggregates or the reduction in use of virgin aggregates in Scotland as a direct result of the proposed tax. The Executive has, however, commissioned research to provide information on the extent to which recycled minerals are being used as an alternative to primary aggregate. This will provide a basis for any future setting of recycling targets or regular surveys to enable monitoring of activity. The research report has been published this week and a copy is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Cancer

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the incidence of cancer among residents of Cowdenbeath and Lochore is any greater than the average incidence in equivalent population groups in other parts of Scotland.

Susan Deacon: Available data do not suggest that the overall incidence of cancer amongst residents of the Cowdenbeath and Lochore area of Fife is unusual when compared with that for Fife Health Board or Scotland as a whole. The table below sets out the observed and expected number of cases in postcode sectors best representing Cowdenbeath and Lochore areas based on rates for (a) Scotland and (b) Fife Health Board area; all ages, by sex: 1988-97.

  In all comparisons the ratios of the observed to expected numbers of cases are close to one, and the associated 95% confidence intervals all include the value of one, indicating that any departure from the expectation is not statistically significant.

  Incidence of all malignant neoplasms excluding non-melanoma skin (ICD-9 173 / ICD-10 C44)

  


(a) Compared with Scotland 
  





Observed
registrations 
  

Expected
registrations 
  

O/E 
  



Males 
  

510 
  

513 
  

1.00 
  



Females 
  

518 
  

505 
  

1.03 
  



(b) Compared with Fife HB 
  









Observed
registrations 
  

Expected
registrations 
  

O/E 
  



Males 
  

510 
  

494 
  

1.03 
  



Females 
  

518 
  

493 
  

1.05 
  



  Source: SOCRATES (Scottish cancer registration database); these figures prepared on 6 February 2001.

  Population data supplied to ISD Scotland by GRO(S).

Cancer

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake an investigation into a possible link between the chemical plant sited near Cowdenbeath and the incidence of cancer amongst local residents.

Susan Deacon: Available data show that cancer incidence in areas around the Mossmorran petro-chemical plant is no higher than might normally be expected when compared with other health board areas and with Scotland as a whole.

  Fife Council and Fife Health Board are working together with the companies involved and with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to address any concerns raised by local residents living in the surrounding areas.

E-Commerce

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take any action on the information concerning e-commerce in Scotland in chapter 9 of the report Business in the Information Age: International Benchmarking Study 2000 by the Department of Trade and Industry.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Chapter 9 of Business in the Information Age  demonstrates that Scotland has made significant progress in the adoption of technologies for business purposes since the previous year, both relative to other regions of the UK and in actual terms. Scotland is above average or average on most significant measures, including the connectivity indicator. This shows that 76% of Scottish businesses either have a website, make frequent use of e-mail or use electronic data interchange, and is exceeded by only four of the UK’s 12 regions.

  The Scottish Executive and the enterprise networks are committed to ensuring that Scotland improves this position. The UK Government has announced that ICT local support centres will receive an additional £30 million over the next three years to help businesses move beyond having a website or trading online to transform themselves through the effective use of information and communication technology. Scotland will receive a share of this money.

  Both Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have set targets for e-commerce adoption in line with those for the UK as a whole. The e-commerce strategy for Scotland detailed in the Connecting Scotland document ensures a co-ordinated approach to these activities. The strategy was drawn up by a steering group led by Scottish Enterprise and assisted by around 300 other individuals and organisations, and it focuses on creating the right environment, accelerating business uptake, accelerating supply-side development and developing skills and knowledge for the future. They aim to achieve the targets by implementing a recently enhanced range of initiatives aimed at SMEs including workshops, seminars, a consultancy package, awareness raising events, best practice awards and e-business advisors.

Housing

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the ballot on the proposed Glasgow housing stock transfer is scheduled to take place.

Jackie Baillie: The date of the ballot is a matter for Glasgow City Council in discussion with tenants and other interested parties. Current plans are that it will take place in November 2001.

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is in a position to announce local authority housing capital allocations for 2001-02 and whether there will be any supplementary allocations for 2000-01.

Jackie Baillie: I am able to announce both the local authority housing capital allocations for 2001-02 and supplementary allocations for 2000-01. These are set out in the following tables:

  2001-02 Allocations

  


Authority 
  

Allocation
(£ million) 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

5.293 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

4.495 
  



Angus 
  

1.536 
  



Argyll and Bute 
  

1.607 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

1.597 
  



Comhairle nan Eilean Siar 
  

1.701 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

4.251 
  



Dundee City 
  

8.436 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

3.489 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

2.388 
  



East Lothian 
  

2.510 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

0.964 
  



City of Edinburgh 
  

14.916 
  



Falkirk 
  

5.369 
  



Fife 
  

7.007 
  



Glasgow City 
  

43.750 
  



Highland 
  

7.230 
  



Inverclyde 
  

3.965 
  



Midlothian 
  

2.122 
  



Moray 
  

1.848 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

2.953 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

12.330 
  



Orkney Islands 
  

0.224 
  



Perth and Kinross 
  

2.108 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

8.565 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

2.399 
  



Shetland 
  

1.981 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

2.906 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

5.858 
  



Stirling 
  

3.048 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

5.657 
  



West Lothian 
  

2.097 
  



Scotland 
  

174.6 
  



  2000-01 Supplementary Allocations

  


Authority 
  

Supplementary Allocation
(£ million) 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

0.399 
  



Angus 
  

0.141 
  



Argyll & Bute 
  

0.046 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

0.501 
  



Dundee City 
  

0.403 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

0.163 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

0.385 
  



Edinburgh 
  

1.209 
  



Glasgow City 
  

1.128 
  



Highland 
  

0.201 
  



Inverclyde 
  

0.201 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

0.129 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

0.322 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

0.161 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

0.161 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

0.322 
  



Stirling 
  

0.242 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

0.081 
  



West Lothian 
  

0.604 
  



Total 
  

6.8

Justice

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the members of the Parole Board for Scotland, giving their age and length of service.

Mr Jim Wallace: The names and length of service of those currently serving on the Parole Board for Scotland are listed in the table. Data protection legislation does not permit disclosure of the ages of those concerned without their consent having first been obtained.

  


Name 
  

Length of service (years) 
  



Dr Jim McManus (Chairman) 
  

1* 
  



Dr John Baird 
  

3** 
  



Mrs Megan Casserly 
  

2*** 
  



Dr John Donnelly 
  

1 
  



Mrs Johan Findlay 
  

1 
  



Dr Judy Greenwood OBE 
  

3 
  



Mrs Irene Guild 
  

4 
  



Mr Hamish Hyslop 
  

3 
  



Sheriff Brian Lockhart 
  

3½ 
  



Sheriff Principal John Maguire 
  

1 
  



Mr James Milne 
  

4 
  



Mrs Eleanor McLaughlin 
  

1 
  



Ms Morag Owens 
  

2 
  



Rt Hon Lord Ross 
  

3½ 
  



Hon Lord Wheatley 
  

1 
  



  *Dr McManus previously served as a member of the board from 1987-94.

  **Dr Baird previously served on the board from 1992-94.

  ***Mrs Casserly previously served on the board from 1990-98 and was appointed for a fresh term on 14 January 1999.

  Those concerned were appointed for further periods of appointment on the board following advertisement and competition.

Medical Research

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research projects are in receipt of funding from the Chief Scientist Office during 2000-01.

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research projects received funding from the Chief Scientist Office in each year from 1997-98 to 1999-2000.

Susan Deacon: A list of research projects being funded before the 1997-98 financial year, but continuing to be funded in that year, has been provided to the Parliament’s Reference Centre. Details of new research awards made in each of the financial years 1997-98, 1998-99 and 1999-2000 are available in the CSO annual reports for those years, copies of which are in the Parliament’s Reference Centre. Similar information for April to December of the current financial year is now available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Medical Research

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria research projects must meet in order to receive funding from the Chief Scientist Office.

Susan Deacon: The Chief Scientist Office is largely a response mode funder of research and this role is well known and advertised throughout the health care and academic community. Research proposals are assessed on the basis of their scientific quality and potential relevance to the health of the people of Scotland. Projects must be able to demonstrate "health gain" and potential to improve health care. Such assessments are made by expert peer group and committee review. Potential applicants are encouraged to discuss their research idea with CSO at an early stage, so that they can develop their proposals in a way that most directly addresses Scotland’s public health and health services research needs. Comprehensive information and guidance on how to apply for a CSO research grant is available on the CSO website at www.show.scot.nhs.uk/cso/.

  A strategic statement of CSO’s role in supporting NHS-related research is set out in its 1998 Research Strategy document, a copy of which is also on the CSO website.

Prisoners

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 26 transferred life prisoners in Scotland are categorised as (a) unrestricted in terms of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997, (b) unrestricted and transferred from jurisdictions where the government is not a signatory of the European Convention on Human Rights, (c) restricted in terms of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997, (d) restricted and transferred from jurisdictions where the government is not a signatory of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Mr Jim Wallace: Five life prisoners were transferred on an unrestricted basis and seven on a restricted basis under the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997. 13 life prisoners were transferred on a permanent basis under section 26(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1961, which preceded the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 and one life prisoner was transferred following a court martial in Berlin, Germany. The Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 and its predecessor only provides for the transfer of prisoners within the UK, therefore the answer to parts (b) and (d) is none.

  In addition, there are three transferred life prisoners who are at present detained as restricted patients in the State Hospital.

Prisoners

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to remove the power of Scottish Ministers to alter the security categorisation of prisoners and invest such power in another place; if so, in what place and whether it will introduce amendments to the Convention Rights (Compliance) (Scotland) Bill.

Mr Jim Wallace: There are currently no plans to do so.

Regional Selective Assistance

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all development areas as defined under the Regional Selective Assistance scheme; what proportion of the Scottish population lives in each, and how much grant assistance has been made available to each in each year since May 1999.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The GB Assisted Areas map (defining the areas in which Regional Selective Assistance can be given) was approved by the European Commission on 26 July 2000. This map comprised of amalgamations of 1991 local authority wards rather than development areas. A list of the 656 Scottish wards included in the map was published when the map was approved and is accessible on the Scottish Executive website ( http://www.scotland.gov.uk/who/elld/_Forms/aawards.prn ).

  These 656 wards are of varying size and population coverage, but overall the Assisted Areas map covers 48% of the Scottish population.

  Data in respect of grant assistance offered in each individual 1991 ward is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, details (including Travel to Work Area locations) of individual offers of Regional Selective Assistance over £75,000 are, after the first instalment of grant has been paid, published quarterly in Labour Market Statistics, which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Scottish Executive Publications

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many copies of Working together for Scotland: A Programme for Government were printed and what the costs were of printing and publishing the document.

Henry McLeish: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-12906 on 13 February 2001.

Scottish Executive Publications

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what means of distribution were employed and what the target market was for Working together for Scotland: A Programme for Government.

Henry McLeish: Working together for Scotland: A Programme for Government was sent on publication free of charge to 663 organisations. It has been distributed on the same basis to MSPs, members of the UK Cabinet, members of the press, and internally within the Scottish Executive. It is available to members of the public through the Stationery Office bookshop, priced £4.95. It is also available on the Internet, at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/government/pfg-00.asp.

  Working together for Scotland reports on how the Executive is achieving the targets in the original Programme for Government and sets out new commitments for the future. The organisations who received Working together for Scotland free of charge cover a wide spectrum of Scottish life. They included local authorities, health boards and NHS Trusts, many charities, large corporations, and further and higher education institutions.